Government slashes working holiday visa places, alarming regional Queensland
The government is slashing second and third-year working holiday visas, with allocation decided by ballot.
The federal government has cut the number of second and third-year working holiday visas available to international workers. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced second-year visa places will drop to 45,000 from 57,000.
Third-year places will fall to just 5,000 from about 31,000. Applicants will enter a ballot for the limited spots.
British passport holders stay exempt. In Townsville, about 70 percent of local businesses employ at least 10 working holiday visa holders.
These workers make up over 60 percent of staff in some cases. Bart Furst, director of Kickon Group, says businesses could be forced to cut back hours.
Regional areas need these workers far more than capital cities. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and local MPs from both major parties have criticized the policy.
- 45,000 (down from 57,000)
- Second-year visa cap
- 5,000 (down from 31,000)
- Third-year visa cap
- 70 percent
- Townsville businesses using visa holders
- over 60 percent
- Visa holders as staff percentage in
Why it mattersSome regional hospitality, tourism and agriculture depend on holiday visa workers. Cuts could cause labor shortages, reduced services, and slower growth in the north.
AustraliaNorth Queensland and other regional areas face potential labour crises if workers choose Sydney or Melbourne; businesses may cut hours or close, deepening regional economic pressure.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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